Remembering September 11, 2001…Ten years later.

As we watch our favorite pastime today, let us also take a moment to remember what happened on this date a decade ago. I know that nobody reading this hasn’t thought about the significance of today’s date.

As I do every year, I’m reposting a blog entry I wrote in 2007. To this day, I still can’t find better words to describe how I felt, how I still feel, every time I think about the events of that day. As a true blooded, patriotic American, who has served my country, and now my community for almost a quarter of a century, the images of that day are burned forever into my memory, and it still boils my blood.

The only thing that calms me is the knowledge that brave and dedicated men and women sacrificed their lives to save others. Not just the first responders, but also the heroes inside the towers, the heroes on United Flight 93, and countless others whose stories were never told. It also calms me to know that we, as a people, came together as one, regardless of race, creed, color, ethnicity or cultural difference, during our nation’s shining hour. While the events of that day were no doubt tragic, I refuse to give those responsible the satisfaction of calling it a “tragedy.” Because despite the tragic events, America stood strong and showed those cowards that nothing, and I mean nothing, will ever break our resolve. I feel in my heart that America, and every American citizen, has a right to be damned proud of that.

Here’s my 2007 post:

Six years ago today marked a defining moment in United States history. There isn’t a person that was older than about 7 on that day that cannot remember what they were doing when they heard the news. There isn’t a person alive that watched the horrific images on television or that witnessed the events firsthand that will ever be able to forget. 2,972 innocent people were killed that day. 24 are still considered missing. 2,977 innocent people were killed that day. 24 are still considered missing. Approximately 2,763 of those who died were Americans. 209 were citizens of other nations. Another 19 killed were the terrorists that thought they could bring a nation to it’s knees. But they were wrong. They thought we would cower. They thought we were weak. They were very, very wrong.

Lest we never forget the timeline of the events of that fateful Tuesday morning:

7:58 a.m. – United Airlines Flight 175 departs Boston for Los Angeles,
carrying 56 passengers, two pilots, and seven flight attendants. The
Boeing 767 is hijacked after takeoff and diverted to New York.

7:59 a.m. – American Airlines Flight 11 departs Boston for Los
Angeles, carrying 81 passengers, two pilots, and nine flight
attendants. This Boeing 767 is also hijacked and diverted to New York.

8:46 a.m. – American Flight 11 from Boston crashes into the North
Tower at the World Trade Center.

9:03 a.m. – United Flight 175 from Boston crashes into the South
Tower at the World Trade Center.

9:45 a.m. – American Flight 77 crashes into The Pentagon.

10:05 a.m. – The South Tower at the World Trade Center collapses.

10:10 a.m. – A large section of one side of The Pentagon collapses.

10:10 a.m. – United Flight 93 crashes in a wooded area in
Pennsylvania, after passengers confront hijackers.

10:28 a.m. – The North Tower at the World Trade Center collapses.

As we watched the events unfold, stunned and in disbelief, countless acts of heroism and bravery were being demonstrated by so many. Those unselfish acts saved thousands of lives. Remembering all those who died that day is our only way of truly honoring them. Statues and memorials will mark their heroism and sacrifices forever. But the true honor is in the heart of each and every one of us who lives on. That is something no terrorist can take away from us.
And that is something they couldn’t have planned for.

The two 110-story World Trade towers were brought down. Another building in the complex collapsed from the damage later in the day. Several other WTC buildings, and a few buildings in the surrounding area, were destroyed or damaged. The Pentagon in Washington was also damaged. But the most damage, the damage that cannot be calculated in monetary amounts, was in the hearts of millions of Americans and others from foreign countries that were affected by these tragic events. Over time those wounds may heal, but the scars will be there forever. Lives will be rebuilt. Buildings will be rebuilt and repaired. But the scars will never go away. They are imbedded in our memories and in our hearts. And we are stronger because of it.

Those responsible could not bring us down. They only made us stronger. They brought a nation together, when they thought they could break us. They thought we would tremble with fear, only to see us stand up with courage. They thought we could be intimidated, only to see us fight back. When word of the attacks on the twin towers made it to the passengers on United Airlines Flight 93, they fought back. While the plane came crashing to the ground in a field in southwest Pennsylvania, the terrorists’ plans for that flight went crashing down with it. They might have hit 3 of their 4 planned targets, but they couldn’t plan for the courage and determination of the men and women on that plane. When they thought we would lay down and be victims, we stood up and made victims out of them.

I honor all those who died that day. For the heroes and the victims, for the families, co-workers, friends and loved-ones, I will not forget the events of that day. I will never forget. America will never forget.

~ Nemo me impune lacessit ~

May we also remember on this day all those who have given the awesome and ultimate sacrifice defending our nation and our freedom and all the soldiers who are serving here and abroad as we go about our daily lives. While we’re enjoying our Lattes, Pizza, football and high-speed internet, let us not forget to take a moment out of each day to honor them…